Packaging machine for carton with end identification panel and method



June 8, 1965 R. H. GANZ 3,187,479

PACKAGING MACHINE FOR CARTON WITH END IDENTIFICATION PANEL AND METHOD Filed March 29, 1962 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. Easier Affmvz June 8, 1965 R. H. GANZ 3,187,479

PACKAGING MACHINE FOR CARTON WITH END IDENTIFICATION PANEL AND METHOD Filed March 29, 1962 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVE TOR. Foeszr AWZ W I pfim M? M June 8, 1965 R. H. GANZ 3,187,479 PACKAGING MACHINE FOR CARTON WITH END IDENTIFICATION PANEL AND METHOD Filed March 29, 1962 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 I NVEN TOR. K 03527- QAWZ' June 8, 1965 H, GANZ PACKAGING MACHINE FOR CARTON WITH END IDENTIFICATION PANEL AND METHOD Filed March 29, 1962 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. Pose/w QA/vz ATTOR NE y June 8, 1965 R. H. GANZ 3,137,479

PACKAGING MACHINE FOR CARTON WITH END IDENTIFICATION PANEL AND METHOD Filed March 29, 1962 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

June 8, 1965 R H. GANZ 3,187,479

PACKAGING MACHTNE FOR CARTON WITH END IDENTIFICATION PANEL AND METHOD Filed March 29, 1962 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 as f a;

INVENTOR. P0352? QAWZ June 8, 1965 R H GANZ 3,187,479v

PACKAGING MAGHiNE FOR CARTON WITH END IDENTIFICATION PANEL AND METHOD Filed March 29, 1962 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 7 w I .12. n M, n T l 1 1 1/ 3 3 III/ INVENTOR. Passer A. p/vz BY i g NEY June 8, 1965 R. H. GANZ 3,187,479

PACKAGING MACHINE FOR CARTON WITH END IDENTIFICATION PANEL AND METHOD Filed March 29, 1962 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 INVENTOR. Passer Qmvz June 8, 1965 R. H. GANZ 3,187,479

PACKAGING MACHINE FOR CARTON WITH END IDENTIFICATION PANEL AND METHOD Filed March 29, 1962 9 Sheets- Sheet 9 I i I i I 5 a; f 9 I 5/ 1 :7 57 i as a? i l l I 1 4i 2 I 5 s2 s z I 29 a! L.) 52 '2 5 5 5 3 INVENTOR Pose/er A. gin/z BY ATTONEY United States Patent Ofiice PACKAGING MACHENE FOR CARTON WITH END Filed Mar. 29, 1962, Ser. No. 183,541

25 (llaims. (Ql. 53-32) This invention relates in general to new and useful improvements in packaging machines, and more particularly relates to a packaging machine particularly adapted to automatically apply carton blanks to groups of bottles and like containers in the forming of a carton wherein the carton is wrapped around the group of containers.

This invention is particularly directed to a machine for applying a carton to a plurality of bottles arranged in two columns with there being three or more bottles in each column of the plurality of bottles. The carton is provided with cutouts at the top thereof for receiving caps and upper parts of the necks of the bottles, with the carton including a top wall which has a central top wall portion and two outer downwardly sloping portions, and the ends of the carton being provided with identification panels which are primarily hingedly connected to the central top wall portion. The construction of the cartons is such that the end identification panels project beyond the normal edges of the carton blanks, with the result that the carton blanks must be fed insuch a manner that the end identification panels of adjacent cartons are disposed in overlapping relation.

The packaging machine of this invention has two major requirements. One of these is that the carton blanks must be fed to bottles or lieg containers disposed in two continuous columns, with the bottles in the columns be- 3,187,479 i Patented June 8, 1965 tainers and provide the necessary space between adjacent partially formed packages to permit the later depressing of the end identification panels.

Still another object of this invention is to provide in a packaging machine for applying cartons to groups of containers means for accurately positioning the cartons with respect to the groups of containers and for effecting the full seating of the cartons with respect to the containers including the partial shaping of the cartons over the containers, the carton seating means including special roller means having stop surfaces thereon for first positioning a partially formed carton with respect to a group of containers and then progressively urging the partially formed carton down over the group of containers together with the shaping of the top wall of the carton and the interlocking of the top wall of the carton with the upper portions of thecontainers.

Another object of this invention isto provide in a packaging machine of the type wherein carton blanks are formed into cartons and in the forming of the blanks into cartons, the cartons are wrapped around a plurality of containers, means for effectively seating top wall portions of cartons on necks of containers with the containers of different groups of containers being disposed in immediately adjacent relation and the cartons being of the type having projecting end identification panels, the means being in the form of roller means which progressively roll along the top wallportions of cartons and progressively force the cartons down onto the containers and shape the top wall portions of the carton-s about the upper portions of the containers, and there being conveyor means for immediately engaging a partially formed package including a group of containers and a partially ing disposed in contiguous relation and with each carton blank being applied to a separate group of bottles. The second of these problems is that the carton blank, in the forming of the carton about the respective group of bottles, must be first firmly seated on the upper ends of the bottles or like containers, and then the end identification panels be pressed out of the plane of the top wall.

In view of the foregoing, it is an object of this invention to provide a novel packaging machine for applying carton blanks to a plurality of containers wherein the carton blank-s are delivered from above the containers and when applied to the containers, the top wall of the carton being formed from the blank is downwardly and forwardly inclined, with the partially formed carton being fed at a greater speed than the movement of the containers to which the cart-on is being applied, wherein the projecting end identification panels of two adjacent cartons will momentarily overlap at the time of initial application of a carton to a group of containers whereby separately fed carton blanks may be properly aligned with groups ,of bottles or like containers wherein the containers are disposed in continuous columns in contiguous relation. I Another object or this invention is to provide a novel packaging machine for applying cartons to groups of containers from two continuous columns of containers wherein the cartons are in the process of being shaped from carton blanks, each of the partially formed cartons being fed at a greater speed than the speed of movement of the containers, and the end identification panels of two adjacent cartons being disposed in overlapped relation at the moment of application of a partially formed carton to a group of containers, and there being provided means for immediately advancing at a greater rate a connected group of containers associated with a next preceding carton so as to immediatelyseparate the connected together group of containers from the following group of conformed carton interlocked therewith and rapidly mov ing the partially formed package as compared to the previous feeding of the containers so as to immediately move one partially formed package out of the Way of the mechanism for applying the carton to a next group of bottles in the forming of the next partially formed package.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel device for depressing end identification panels acting between a pair of spaced partially formed packages and serving to push down two opposed end identification panels of adjacent cartons in a continuous wiping operation.

' Another object of this invention is to provide a novel packaging machine for applying cartons to selected groups of bottles wherein all of the bottles are disposed v in columns with the bottles of the individual columns being disposed in contiguous relation with the cartons being'applied to the group of bottles or like containers while the bottles of the individual groups are all disposed in contiguous relation with one another and with bottles of adjacent groups, and wherein the cartons have portions of greater length'than the combined length of bottles of a group of bottles with special provision being made 'for alleviating the problem resulting from the projecting portions of the cartons. y

" Yet another object of this invention is to provide a novel method of applying cartons to groups of bottles or like containers wherein the cartons are provided at opposite edges or ends thereof with projecting end identification panels, and wherein the bottles or like containers to which the cartons are applied are disposed in columns with the bottles in the two columns being disposed in contiguous relation, the cartons being fed faster than the movement of the bottles and as each carton is fed over a group of bottles and is aligned therewith, the carton is first progressively engaged with the bottles from one end of the carton to the other, after which the partially formed package including the bottles and the carton interlocked therewith is immedately advanced at a greater rate than the movement of the bottles so as to space the adjacent partially formed packages, after which the end identification panels are automatically depressed with two adjacent end identification panels being depressed in a single operation.

With the above and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear, the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed description, the appended claims and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawings:

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a portion of a packaging machine in accordance with the invention with one side panel of the machine being omitted and minor components of the machine also being omitted to clearly illustrate the operation of the components of the machine which are specifically the subject of this invention.

FIGURE 1A is a fragmentary view similar to FIG- URE 1 and shows the mechanism at a later point in the operation thereof.

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the packaging machine, showing generally that portion of the machine illustrated in FIGURE 1, with the support for a partially formed carton deflector being shown in section, the view showing specifically the details of the apparatus with several portions of the apparatus being broken away for purposes of clarity.

FIGURE 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken along the line 33v of FIGURE 2, and shows futher the specific details of the carton applying apparatus.

FIGURE 4 is a schematic elevational view showing the specific details of the means for seating a carton on a group of containers, the various support means being shown in phantom lines and the carton seating roller being shown in section, the view being taken generall along the line 4-4 of FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary elevational view of the carton seating means only with the arm for supporting the shaft carrying the carton seating roller means being partially broken away and shown in section.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary elevational view showing generally the details of the means for depressing the end identification panel of adjacent cartons, other structural details being omitted for purposes of clarity.

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along the line 7-7 of FIGURE 6, and shows more specifically the details of the means for depressing the end identification panels of cartons.

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged elevational schematic view showing the position of the partially formed carton at the time it is brought into alignment with a group of bottles, and shows the position thereof with respect to a preceding carton and the carton seating roller means.

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary transverse vertical sectional view taken along the line 9--9 of FIGURE 8 and shows the specific details of the carton seating roller means and the relationship thereof with respect to partially formed carton and the containers associated with the carton.

FIGURE 10 is a schematic view similar to FIGURE 8. and shows the operation of the machine immediately subsequent to the showing of FIGURE 8 wherein the partially formed carton is more firmly seated on the containers, and. the previously partially formed package including a carton and a plurality of containers has been advanced away from the containers being conencted together by the carton, the phantom lines at the top of the, view showing the movement of the carton seating roller means from the position illustrated in FIGURE 8.

FIGURE 11 is a fragmentary transverse vertical sectional view taken along the line 1111 of FIGURE 10 and shows the specific relationship of the carton seating roller means with respect to the carton.

FIGURE 12 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken along the line 12-12 of FIGURE 1, and shows the specific details of the means for advancing a partially formed package which includes a group of bottles and a partially formed carton interconnecting the same.

FIGURE 13 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view similar to FIGURE 12 and shows the manner in which one group of bottles is advanced away from the other.

FIGURE 14 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along the line 14-14 of FIGURE 2, and shows one of the end identification panel depressing cams in an initial panel depressing position.

FIGURE 15 is a view similar to FIGURE 14 and shows a further relative position of the cam with respect to a pair of associated end identification panels.

FIGURE 16 is a fragmentary plan view of a carton blank utilized in conjunction with this invention.

FIGURE 17 is a fragmentary top perspective view of a completed package formed with the machine of this invention.

Reference is now made to the drawings wherein the packaging machine, in accordance with this invention is shown, and reference is first made to FIGURES 16 and 17 wherein the general details of a package formed in accordance with this invention and a carton blank are shown. In FIGURE 17, there is illustrated a package, generally referred to by the numeral 20, which includes six bottles B arranged in two columns of three bottles each, and each of the bottles B having a removable crown cap C. At this time, it is pointed out that hereinafter the containers which form parts of the packages formed in accordance with this invention will be considered bottles, even though the containers could equally as well be cans or other similarly shaped containers. Further, reference will be made to the fact that each package contains six bottles arranged in two columns of three bottles each although it will be obvious that by changing the sizes of certain of the components and making slight changes in timing, the packaging machine may be readily adapted for forming packages containing other than six bottles.

The package 20 also includes a carton, generally referred to by the numeral 21, which is of the wrap-around type and which, for descriptive purposes, includes a central top wall portion 22', a pair of outer top wall portions 23 and depending side walls 24. It is also to be understood that the side walls 24 will have connected thereto bottom flaps of which the bottom flap 26 is illustrated in FIGURE 1-. The two bottom flaps of the carton 21 may be secured together in any desired manner as far as this invention is concerned, although the bottom flap 26 is illustrated as having connecting tabs which are caused to interlock in a known manner not forming a part of this invention with the other of the bottom flaps (not shown) of the carton 21.

Reference is now made to FIGURE 16, wherein there are illustrated the details of a carton blank 27 from which the carton 21 is formed. The carton blank 27 is relatively wide and only portions thereof have been illustrated in FIGURE 16. The carton blank 27 includes a central panel 28 which corresponds to the central top wall panel 22. The panel 28 is defined by a pair of transverse fold lines 29 and a second pair of fold lines 30 at the ends thereof. The panel 23 is provided with a pair of cutouts 31 which define finger receiving openings and from which depending tabs 32 are forced. The fold lines 29 are interrupted by central cutouts 33 and terminate at the ends thereof in others of the cutouts 33, each. of the cutouts 33 defining a fiap which forms a continuation of the central panel 28.

The carton blank 27 is provided with other transverse fold lines 35 which, together with the fold lines 29, set off panels 36 which correspond to the outer top wall portions 23. The fold lines 35 also, in part, set off panels 37 which correspond to the side walls 24 of the carton 21.

The carton blank 27 is further provided with transverse fold lines 33 which extend from opposite ends of each of the fold lines 30 and are in alignment with the fold lines 29. The fold lines 38 extend to edges of projecting portions 39 of the carton blank 27 and define end identification panels 40. Other fold lines 41, which are diagonally disposed, extend outwardly from the intersections of the fold lines 30 and 38 and form connecting webs 42 extending between the end identification panels 40 and the panels 36.

Referring once again to FIGURE 17 in particular, it will be seen that in the completed package 20, the upper ends of the necks of the bottles B pass through the cutouts 33 with the crown caps C extending outwardly of the cutouts 33 and underlying the tabs 34. In addition, the crown caps form an interlock with the carton 21 and serve to retain the top wall of the carton 21 in place on the upper ends of the bottles B. The outer top wall portions 23 slope downwardly and outwardly while the end identification panels 40 slope downwardly at opposite ends of the package 20 to permit visual determination of the contents of the package 20 by means of indicia (not shown) disposed on the end identification panels 40.

Referring now to FIGURES 1, 2 and 3 in particular, it will be seen that there are illustrated details of a portion of a packaging machine formed in accordance with this invention, the packaging machine being generally referred to bythe numeral 45. The packaging machine 45 includes a suitable frame, generally referred to by the numeral 46, and which may vary in construction. However, as is clearly shown in FIGURE 3, the frame 46 includes a horizontally disposed plate 47 which has connected to the underside thereof at opposite edges thereof longitudinally extending frame members 48. The

frame members 48 are suitably connected to standards,

such as the standards 49 and 50 shown in FIGURE '1.

The frame members 48 also support upstanding side plates 51 to which there are secured extension plates 52. It is to be understood that the frame .46 illustrated and described herev may be varied as desired.

As is best shown in FIGURES l and 3, the packaging machine 45 includes an elognated deadplate 53 which is disposed above the plate 47 and is supported therefrom by means of suitable supports, such as the support 54. Bottles B are pushed onto the deadplate 53 by means of an endless conveyor 55 which is supported at one end by means of a sprocket 56 mounted on a shaft 57, the shaft 57 being supported in any manner, including being suspended from thedeadplate 53. The conveyor 55 is of a conventional type for feeding bottles in two columns, and the support for the opposite end of the conveyor 55 and the means for effecting the driving of the same have not been shown. It will be readily apparent from FIGURE 1 that the conveyor 55 serves to continuously supply bottle B to the deadplate 53 so that the bottles are disposed in two columns and adjacent bottles in the two columns are in contiguous relation. It will be understood that the conveyor 55 has a sliding contact with the bottles B so that the bottles B will remain 6 ported by a shaft 64 which, in turn, is suitably suspended from the hanger 60. The opposite ends of the conveyors 62 are suitably supported and driven in a conventional manner although it is desired that the driving of the conveyors 62 be in timed relation to the operation of other mechanism of the packaging machine 45, as will be described hereinafter. The conveyors 62 are provided with dogs or cleats 5? which engage carton blanks 27 and move the same from left to right. i

It is to be understood that the carton blanks 27 will be fed froma suitable hopper (not shown) in a flat state. As the carton blank 27 moves along the conveyors 62, the carton blanks 27 are engaged by foldingmeans, generally referred to'by the numeral 65. The folding means 65 includes a transverse shaft 66 which extends between the extension plates 52 and is rotatably journaled in suitable bearings 67 carried by the extension plates 52. The shaft 66 is driven in a manner to be described hereinafter and carries a pair of arms 68 which are disposed in spaced relation and which have secured to the ends thereof remote from the shafts 66 carton blank folding blades 69. The carton blank folding blades 69 engage the carton blanks27 and f-oldthe same along the fold lines 35 so that the side walls 24 of the carton 21 are now in the proper depending relation although the top wall of the carton 21 is not fully shaped and the bottom flaps, including the bottom flaps 26, remain as continuations of the side walls 24. The partially folded cartons 21 are now ready to be engaged with a group of six of the bottles B.

As is clearly shown in FIGURE 1, the cartons 21 are fed well above the bottles B. As the partially formed cartons move off of the conveyor-s 62, the right ends thereof are deflected downwardly towards the bottles B by means of a deflector 70 which is supported from the hanger 60. As a result, at the time of release of a partially formed carton 21, the'carton assumes a downwardly sloping position, as is shown in FIGURE 1, with the right 7 hand end identification panel 40 thereof resting upon the left hand end identification panel 40 of the next preceding carton 21, as is best shown in FIGURE 8. Due to the fact that the extreme ends of the cartons 21 may be overlapped at the time of application to the bottles, it will be readily apparent that it is not necessary to separate the bottles into groups prior to the application of the cartons 21 hereto.

, After a carton blank 21 reaches the downward sloping position illustrated in FIGURE 1, it is necessary that a carton seating operation be initiated so that the carton may be firmly seated on the group of six bottles aligned therewith and the top wall thereof shaped to conform generally to the upper portions of the bottles with the carton blank being folded along the fold lines 29. To

. this end, thereare provided carton seating means generally referred to by the numeral 71. 'The carton seating means '71 are supported from a transverse drive shaft 72 which, as is best illustrated in FIGURE 2, extends between the extension plates 52 and is rotatably journaled in bearings 73 carried thereby. The drive shaft 72 projects through one of the extension plates 52 and is provided at the end thereof with a sprocket 74 which is driven in a manner to be described hereinafter.

' Referring now to FIGUR'ES 2, 4 and 5 of the drawings,

it will be seen that the cartonseating means 71 are dis-' posed to one side of the path of the bottles B and include a driven shaft 75 which is disposed parallel to the drive shaft 7 2. The driven shaft 75 is journaled in an elongated sleeve 76 which is supported by a pair of arms 77 and 78, the opposite ends of the arms 77 and 78 being journaled on the drive shaft 72 for relative rotation and being spaced apart by'means of a collar 80. In this manner, the shaft 75 is mounted for rocking movement relative to the drive shaft 72.

Although the shaft 75 is swingable relative to the shaft 72, the shaft 75 is constantly driven from the shaft 72 by means of a pair of sprockets 81 and 82 carried by the shafts 72 and 75, respectively, and connected together by a drive chain 83. The shaft 75 carries roller means, generally referred to by the numeral 84, for seating the partially formed carton on a group of bottles. The roller means 34 includes a pair of inner rollers 85 and a pair of outer rollers 86. The operation of the roller means 84 will be described in more detail hereinafter.

The packaging machine also includes a fixed transverse shaft 87 which extends between the extension plates 52 and is suitably secured thereto, as is best shown in FIGURE 2. A lever 88 is pivotally mounted on the shaft 87 and is positioned against movement along the shaft 87 by a pair of collars 89. The lever 88 is provided at the opposite end thereof with a cam follower 90 which is engaged with a cam 91 secured to the shaft 72 for rotation therewith. The cam M is circular except for a short lobe 92.

An adjustable link 93 extends between and is pivotally connected to intermediate portions of the lever 88 and the arm 77. A return spring 94, shown in FIGURE is secured to the arm 77 by means of a pin 95 and is anchored to a bracket 96 carried by a suitable portion of the frame 46. The spring 94 constantly urges the sleeve 76 and the shaft 75 carried thereby downwardly and downward movement of the sleeve 76 is restricted by the link 93 and the engagement of the cam follower 90 with the cam 91. However, the spring 94 normally retains the shaft 75 in a lowermost position, and the shaft 75 is raised only when the cam follower 90 rides over the lobe 92.

Referring once again to FIGURE 4, it will be seen that the rollers 35 are of much smaller diameter than the rollers 86. Further, if desired, the rollers 85 may be provided with rubber surfaces and the rollers 86 are not continuous, a substantially 90 degree portion of each roller 86 being omitted. The omission of a portion of each roller 86 results in the forming of a surface or face 97 on each roller 85 which will function as a stop surface in a manner to be described hereinafter.

Referring now to FIGURE 9, it will be seen that the rollers 85 are substantially of widths corresponding to the widths of the bottle caps C and the rollers 35 are so mounted on the shaft 75 so as to be aligned with the bottle caps C of the bottles of the group of the bottles to which a carton 21 is to be applied. In a like manner, the rollers 86 are widely spaced so as to be engageable with the outer top wall portions 23 of the carton.

Reference is now made to FIGURE 8 in particular, wherein it is shown that'at the exact time the rollers 85 are moving off of the main portion of a preceding carton 21, the roller means 34 are elevated to provide clearance for the end identification panel 45 and an end part of the central top wall portion 22 of the next following carton 21. At the same time, the surfaces 97 of the rollers 36 are properly oriented to provide stops for the leading edge of the partly formed carton 21 being positioned. This assures proper alignment of the carton 21 with the group of bottles with which it is to bev associated.

The roller means 85 remain elevated for a sufiicient period of time to permit the preceding carton 21 and the bottles associated therewith to move out from beneath the rollers 85 and for the first pair of bottles of the next' group of bottles to be positioned under the rollers 85. At this time, the cam follower 9t) rides off of the lobe of the cam 92 and the rollers 85 are seated on the top wall portion 22 of the associated carton 21. The rollers 85, as is clearly shown in FIGURE 11, serve to force the carton 21 down over the bottles B, with the caps C thereof passing through the cutouts 33, and forming interlocks with the bottles beneath the caps. the rollers 86 are not continuous, the rollers 86 are not engaged with the car-ton 21' as soon as are the rollers 85. However, when the rollers 85 are seated on the carton 21,

Due to the fact that wall portions 23 thereof, as: is generally shown in FIGURE 11. As the partially packaged bottles pass under the rollers and 85, the rollers 85 are driven at a peripheral rate corresponding to the rate of the movement of the carton 21 from left to right, as is viewed in FIGURE 10, so that the rollers 85 will firmly seat the central top wall portion 22 of the carton 21 on the caps and necks of the respective bottles. On the other hand, since the rollers 36 have much greater diameters than the rollers 85, as the rollers 86 rotate, the rollers 86 have a wiping action with respect to the outer top wall portions 23 of the carton and serve to push the outer top wall portions 23 down to their proper positions, as is shown in FIG- URE 11.

It has been statedabove that the partially formed package including a partially formed carton 21 and an associated group of bottles B is moved away from the next following group of bottles at the time the carton associated therewith is being placed thereon. This has been shown in FIGURE 10. Reference is now made to FIG- URES 12 and 13 to show the general details of the package feed means, the package feed means being generally referred to by the numeral 98. The package feed means 98 includes an endless conveyor chain 130 disposed at each side of the path of bottles with a run of the endless conveyor chain 1% being guided alongside the path of movement of the bottles by means of a guide 101. Prior to passing into engagement with its associated guide 101, each endless conveyor chain 1% passes around a sprocket 162 which serves to change the direction of movement of fingers 153 carried by the endless conveyor chains 109 as the fingers 1133 approach a partially formed package. At this time, attention is directed to FIGURE 1 wherein it is shown that the carton 21 being positioned with respect to a group of bottles is disposed at an angle with the result that there is clearance between the leading edge of the carton 21 and the trailing edge of the preceding carton 21 adjacent the bottoms thereof notwithstanding that upper parts thereof are disposed in overlapped relation. As a result, there is sufficient clearance for the fingers 103 to pass in behind the side walls 24 of the carton which has been engaged with a group of bottles, and to effect movement of the partially formed package consistihg of the carton and the associated group of bottles. It is to be noted from FIGURE 13 that after the fingers 1 33 have passed in behind the carton side wall 24, the finger is so shaped as to have a tip portion 104 which engages one ofthe bottles B so that while a certain amount of pressure is exerted on the side wall 24 of the carton, other pressure is exerted on the column of bottles B.

Only a portion of the drive for each of the endless conveyor chains is shown. Attention is directed to FIG- URE 2 wherein it will be seen that the endless conveyor chains 100 pass around sprockets 105, the sprockets 105 being disposed to the left of the sprockets 102, as viewed in FIGURE 2, the sprockets 152 being hidden by guide structures 196 which assure the movement of the side walls 24 of the partially formed carton down alongside the bottles of a group of bottles with which it is to be associated. The sprockets 195 are carried by vertical shafts 157 which, as is best illustrated in FIGURE 3, are carried by suitable mounting members 108 supported by the plate 47. The lower end of each of the shafts 107 is provided with a bevel gear 109 which is meshed with a bevel gear 110 carried by a transverse shaft 111. The shaft 111 is supported by means of bearings 112 carried by the side plates 51. At this time, it is pointed out that each of the shafts 167 carries an additional sprocket 113 for driving other components of the packaging machine 45 which are not a part of this invention.

The shaft 111 is provided at the left end thereof, as viewed in FIGURE 3, with a pulley 114 which is driven by means of a drive belt 115 in any desired manner. The right end of the shaft 111 is provided with a sprocket 116 which lies in the same vertical plane with a sprocket 117 9 on the shaft '72 and a sprocket 118 on the shaft 66 by a drive chain 119.

Reference is once again made to FIGURE 3, wherein it will be seen that the guides 106 are supported by a suitable plate 120. The plates 120 also support brackets 121 which carry mounting blocks 122. The mounting blocks 122, as is best shown in FIGURE 2, extend alongside the path of movement of the partially formed packages and, as is best shown in FIGURE 3, are positioned adjacent the neck portions of the bottles B. A pair of holding rollers 123 are carried by the blocks 122 downstream of the roller means 84 to hold the outer top wall portions 23 of the cartons 21 in depressed positions. The blocks 122 also carry a second group of rollers 124 which are identical with the rollers 123 but are arranged further downstream than are the rollers 123, and there are three rollers 124 on each side of the path of the bottles.

After the partially formed cartons have been interlocked with the associated bottles, the cartons still have the end identification panels 4% thereof coplanar with the central top wall portion 22. In accordance with the invention, the packaging machine 45 next depresses the end identification panels 40 to the positions shown in FIGURE 17. In order to accomplish this, there are provided end identification panel depressing means, generally referred to by the numeral 125.

Reference is now made to FIGURES 6 and 7 in particular wherein it will be seen that the end identification panel depressing means 125 includes ,a pair of support arms 126 which have upper ends suitably rotatably journaled on the drive shaft 72 on opposite sides of the center line of the path of movement of the bottles; The lower ends of the support arms 126 carry a transverse shaft 127 which is journaled in the support arms 126 for rotation. Thus the shaft 127 is mounted for both swinging movement about the drive shaft 72 and for rotational movement within the arms 126.

The shaft 127 carries a sprocket 128 intermediate the arms 126 and the sprocket 128 is aligned with a sprocket 129 carried by the drive shaft 72. A drive chain 130 is entrained over the sprockets 128 and 129 to drive the shaft 127 from the drive shaft 72.

The opposite end of the shaft 127 is provided with hubs 131 which are rigidly secured thereto. Each hub 131 carries a cam 132 which is preferably formed of a rigid, yet resilient, material, such as a stiff rubber material. Each cam 132, as is shown in FIGURE 6, includes a portion 133 of constant radius and a relatively large lobe portion 134. It is to be understood that the constant radius portion 133 of each cam 132 will normally ride on the central top wall portion 22of a carton 21 so that the cams 132 will be supported thereby. However, the arms 126 are mounted intermediate their ends in a manner to limit the vertical movement of the shaft 127. An intermediate part of each of the arms is provided with an ear 135 and a shaft 136 extends through the ears 135. The shaft 136 is fixed to the ears 135 against rotation by setscrews 137.

It is to be noted that the shaft 136 extends further to one side of the set of arms 126 than to the other. The extension of the shaft 136 is provided with a flattened end portion which is adjustably received in a slot 138 in a motion limiting device 140. The motion limiting device 140 is adjustably clamped onto the end of the shaft 136 by means of a fastener 141 and the lower end thereof is adapted to bear upon one of the plates 120, as is best shown in FIGURE 3. The lower end of the motion limiting device 140 is rounded, as at 142. The motion limiting device 140 is normally urged downwardly by means of a spring 143 which is anchored at its lower end to a bracket 144 carried by the associated plate 120, and at its upper end on a pin 145 carried by the motion limiting deviced14t). i I 7 It is pointed .out that the motion limiting device 140 actually is in the form of a support so as to govern the vertical height of the shaft 127 and to permit adjustment of the height of the shaft 127. However, due to the fact that the device 140 is held down only by the spring 143, it will be seen that the shaft 127 can move upwardly should there be any irregularity in the packages being formed.

Reference is now made to FIGURES 14 and 15 Wherein the operation of the cams 132 is illustrated. As has been stated above, the cam portion 133 normally rides on the top wall portion 22 of a carton 21. The earns 1.32 are so shaped and synchronized that as the cam portions 133 ride ofi of the top wall portions 22, the lobe portion 134 of each cam engages the trailing end identification panel 411 of the leading carton 21 and the leading end identification panel 40 of the trailing carton 21. Thus, in a single movement, the cams 132 serve to depress the opposed end identification panels 40 of the adjacent cartons 21. This is most clearly shown' in' FIG- URE 15. Due to the specific shape of the end identification panels 40 and the mounting thereof, once they have been depressed, it is no longer necessary to provide means to hold them in their depressed positions.

It is pointed out that the packaging machine 45 will also be provided with means for completing the carton by interlocking or otherwise securing together thebottom flaps thereof. The manner in which this is accomplished is not a part of this invention, and therefore has not been illustrated nor will be described here, except for the statement that such a mechanism could be housed within the housing 145 shown in FIGURE 1. On the otherhand, the final closing of the carton could be accomplished at a further station or on a separate machine.

Operation In the operation of the packaging machine 45, bottles B are constantly supplied to the deadplate 53 in two columns. The supplying of the bottles B is accomplished by means of the endless conveyor 55 which will slide beneath the bottles when the bottles are stacked up on the deadplate 53. Suitable means (not shown) are provided for maintaining the bottles in two columns notwithstanding the fact that the bottles in the individual columns may be in slight pressure engagement with one another. The rate of movement of the bottles along the deadplate 53 is controlled by the conveyor 55.

Cartons 21 are provided in blank form from a suitable supply and are delivered to that portion of the packaging machine 45 which forms this invention by means of a pair of endless conveyor chains 62 in proper spaced relation through lugs 52 carried by the endless conveyor chains. The blanks 27 are initially folded by means of folding blades 69 which swing down on opposite sides of the conveyor chain 62 in the manner best shown in FIG- URE 1.

The partially formed cartons 21 are now of a generally U-shaped configuration and are fed off of the conveyor chains 62 and deflected downwardly by means of the deflector so as to assume momentarily the position shown in FIGURES l and 8. At thistime, the end identification panels of the two adjacent cartons 21 are overlapped.

The carton 21 being applied to a group of bottles is properly oriented with respect to the bottles both by the stop surfaces 97 of the rollers 86- and by the lugs 59. After the partially formed cartons have been initially positioned with respect to a group of bottles, the roller means 85 serve to properly seat the top wall portions of the carton 21 relative to the bottles and to interlock the top wall portions beneath the caps of the bottles, as is' best shown in FIGURE 11.

.The roller means 85 also depressthe outer top Wall 7 portions 23 to the desired downwardly and outwardly sloping positions, and the top wall portions 23' are held in this position by sets of rollers 123 and 124.

Immediately after a carton has been completely seated and interlocked with its associated group of bottles, it is rapidly moved along the deadplate 53 away from the following group of bottles to provide the necessary clearance for the next following carton. Also, the means for feeding the partially formed packages provide for a spacing between adjacent partially formed packages so that the cams 1 32- may pass down between the bottles of the adjacent partially formed packages and depress the adjacent end identification panels in the manner shown in FIGURE 15.

After the bottom flaps of the carton 21 have been secured together in any desired manner, the package is complete and ready for handling with the bottles interlocked with the carton in a manner whereby they cannot accidentally be removed from the carton.

The end identification panels 4% need not always be utilized for identification purposes and accordingly may alternatively be described as bevelled end panels formed integral with the ends of the top panels of the cartons.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that novel and advantageous provision has been made for carrying out the desired end. However, attention is directed to the fact that variations may be made in the example apparatus and method disclosed herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1-. In apackaging machine for applying cartons to groups of containers wherein the cartons have end identification panels, means for conveying containers along a-predetermined path, carton feed means overlying said path for applying cartons to groups of containers, and end identification panel depressing means overlying said path for engaging and depressing opposed end identification panels of adjacent cartons.

2. In a packaging machine for applying cartons to groups of containers wherein the cartons have end identification panels, means for conveying containers along a predetermined path, carton feed means overlying said path for applying cartons to groups of containers, and end identification panel depressing means overlying said path for engagement with opposed end identification panels of adjacent cartons, said end panel depressing means including a cam having a constant radius portion for riding along tops of cartons and a projecting lobe portion projectable down between spaced cartons to eifect the sequential depression of carton end panels.

3. The packaging machine structure of claim 2 together with drive means coupled to said cam for rotating said cam in timed relation to the feeding of cartons beneath said cam.

4. In a packaging machine for applying cartons to groups of containers wherein the cartons have end identification panels, means for conveying containers along a predetermined path, carton feed means overlying said path for applying cartons to groups of containers, and end identification panel depressing means overlying said path for engagement with opposed end identification panels of adjacent cartons, said end panel depressing means including a drive shaft, means mounting said driveshaft above and transversely of said path for rotation, drive means connected to said drive shaft for rotating said drive shaft in timed relation to the feeding of cartons along said path, a support arm journalled on said drive shaft, a carton end panel depressing cam carried by said support arm remote from said drive shaft, and drive means connecting said cam to said drive shaft for rotation thereby.

5. The packaging machine structure of claim 4 wherein said cam has a constant radius portion for riding along tops of cartons and a projecting lobe portion projectable down between spaced cartons to effect the sequential depression of carton end panels.

6. In a packaging machine for applying cartons to ,lamra groups of containers wherein the containers have reduced necks and each carton has a central top wall portion and downwardly sloping outer top wall portions, means for advancing containers in at least two columns and in transverse rows in contiguous relation, carton feed means overlying said path for delivering cartons to groups of containers, and carton seating means disposed above said path and downstream of said carton feed means for seating carton central top wall portions on containers disposed therebeneath and depressing carton outer top wall portions, and end identification panel depressing means overlying said path for engaging and depressing opposed end identification panels of the seated carton.

'7. In a packaging machine for applying cartons to groups of containers wherein the containers have reduced necks and each carton has a central top wall portion and downwardly sloping outer top wall portions, means for advancing containers in at least two columns and in transverse rows in contiguous relation, carton feed means overlying said path for delivering cartons to groups of containers, and carton sealing means disposed above said path and downstream of said carton feed means for seating carton central top wall portions on containers disposed therebeneath and depressing carton outer top wall portions, said carton seating means including central roller means for rolling along carton central top wall portions and a pair of outer rollers of greater diameter than said roller means for engagement with said outer top wall portions.

8. In a packaging machine for applying cartons to groups of containers wherein the containers have reduced necks and each carton has a central top wall portion and downwardly sloping outer top wall portions, means for advancing containers in at least two columns and in transverse rows in contiguous relation, carton feed means overlying said path for delivering cartons to groups of containers, and carton sealing means disposed above said path and downstream of said carton feed means for seating carton central top wall portions on containers disposed therebeneath and depressing carton outer top wall portions, said carton seating means including central roller means for rolling along carton central top wall portions and a pair of outer rollers of greater diameter than said roller means for engagement with said outer top wall portions, said outer rollers being of an extent less than 360 to have a notch therein to provide clearance for a next positioned carton as said outer rollers move out of contact with a preceding carton.

9. The packaging machine structure of claim 8 wherein each outer roller has a pair of surfaces defining the notch therein, and one surface of each outer roller being a stop surface engageable by a carton to aid in the positioning of a carton as the carton is being applied.

10. In a packaging machine for applying cartons to groups of containers wherein the containers have reduced necks and each carton has a central top wall portion and downwardly sloping outer top wall portions, means for advancing containers in at least two columns and in transverse rows in contiguous relation, carton feed means overlying said path for delivering cartons to groups of containers, carton seating means disposed above said path and downstream of said carton feed means for seating carton central top wall portions on containers disposed therebeneath and depressing carton outer top wall portions, each of the cartons having projecting end indentification panels, and package feed means disposed downstream of said carton seating means for moving a group of containers and a carton associated therewith at a greater rate than the movement of the containers by said container advancing means to provide clearance for a following carton.

11. In a packaging machine for applying cartons to groups of containers wherein the containers have reduced necks and each carton has a central top wall portion and downwardly sloping outer top wall portions, means for r r 13 advancing containers in at least two columns and in transverse rows in contiguous relation, carton feed means overlying said path for delivering cartons to groups of containers, carton seating means disposed above said path and downstream of said carton feed means for seating carton central top wall portions on containers disposed therebeneath and depressing carton outer top wall portions, and rollers spaced along said path for engagement with carton outer top wall portions to retain the same in depressed positions. 1

12. In a packaging machine for applying cartons to groups of containers wherein the containers have reduced necks and each carton has a central top wall portion and downwardly sloping outer top wall portions, means for advancing containers in at least two columns and in transverse rows in contiguous relation, carton feed means overlying said path for delivering cartons to groups of containers, and carton seating means disposed above said path and downstream of said carton feed means for seating carton central top wall portions on containers disposed therebeneath and depressing carton outer top wall portions, said carton seating means including a drive shaft, means mounting said drive shaft transversely of said path for rotation, an arm journalled on said drive shaft, carton seating roller means carried by said arm, and drive means connecting said carton seating roller means to said drive shaft for rotation thereby.

13. The packaging machine structure of claim 12 Wherein said carton seating roller means includes central roller means for rolling along carton central top wall portions and a pair of outer rollers of greater diameter than'said roller means for engagement with said outer top wall por tions.

14. In a packaging machine for applying cartons to groups of containers wherein the containers have reduced necks and each carton has a central top wall portion and downwardly sloping outer top wall portions, means for advancing containers in at least two columns and in transverse rows in contiguous relation, carton feed means overlying said path for delivering cartons to groups of containers, carton seating meansdisposed above said path and downstream of said carton feed means for seating carton central top wall portions on containers disposed therebeneath and depressing carton outer top wall portions, the cartons also having end identification panels, and end identification panel depressing means overlying said path and disposed downstream of said carton seating means for engaging and depressing opposed end identification panels of adjacent cartons.

15. lo a packaging machine for applying cartons to groups of containers wherein the containers have reduced necks and each carton has a central top wall portion and downwardly sloping outer top wall portions, means for advancing containers in at least two columns and in transverse rows in contiguous relation, carton feed means overlying said path for delivering cartons to groups of containers, carton seating means disposed above said path and downstream of said carton feed meansfor seating carton central top wall portions on containers disposed therebeneath and depressing carton outer top wall portions, the cartons also having end identification panels, and end identification panel depressing means overlying said path and disposed downstream of said carton seating means for engaging and depressing opposed end identification panels of adjacent cartons, said carton seating means including central roller means for rolling along carton central top wall portions and .a pair of outer rollers of greater diameter than said roller means for engagemen-t with said outer top wall portions.

16. In a packaging machine for applying cartons to groups of containers wherein the containers have reduced necks and each carton has a central top wall portion and downwardly sloping outer top wall portions, means for advancing containers in at least two columns and in transverse rows in contiguous relation, carton feed means over- 14 V lying said path for delivering cartons to groups of containers, carton seating means disposed above said path and downstream of said carton feed means for seating carton central top wall portions on containers disposed therebeneath and depressing carton outer top wall portions, the cartons also having end identification panels, and end identification panel depressing means overlying said path and disposed downstream of said carton seating means for engagement with opposed end identification panels of adjacent cartons, said end panel depressing means including a cam having a constant radius portion for riding along tops of cartons and a projecting lobe portion projectab'le down between spaced cartons to eflect the sequential depression of carton end panels.

17. In a packaging machine for applying cartons to groups of containers wherein the containers have reduced necks and each carton has a central top wall portion and downwardly sloping outer top Wall portions, means for advancing containers in at least two columns and in transverse rows in contiguous relation, carton feed means overlying said path for delivering cartons to groups of containers, carton sea-ting means disposed above said path and downstream of said carton feed means for seating carton central top wall portions on containers disposed therebeneath and depressing carton outer top wall portions, the car-tons also having end identification panels,

and end identification panel depressing means overlying said path and disposed downstream of said carton seat-ing means for engagement with opposed end identification panels of adjacent cartons, said carton seating means including central roller means for rolling along carton central top wall portions and a pair of outer rollers of greater diameter than said roller means for engagement with said outer top wall portions, said end panel depressing means including a cam having a constant radius portion for riding along tops of cartons and a projecting lobe portion pr-ojectable down between spaced car-tons to effect the sequential depression of carton end panels.

18. In a packaging machine for applying oar-tons to groups of containers wherein the containers have reduced necks and each carton has a central top wall portion and downwardly sloping outer top wall portions, means for advancing containers in atleas t two columns and in transverse rows in contiguous relation, carton feed means overlying said path for delivering cartons to groups of containers, cart-on seating means disposed above said path and downstream of said carton feed means for seating carton central top wall portions on containers disposed therebeneath and depressing carton outer top wall portions, the cartons also having end identification panels, and end identification .panel depressing means overlying said path and disposed downstream of said carton seating means for engagement with opposed end identification panels of adjacent cartons, saidcarton seating means including a drive shaft, means mounting said drive shaft transversely of said path for rotation, an arm journalled on said drive shaft, carton seating roller means carried by said arm, and drive means connecting said carton seating roller means to said drive shaft for rotation thereby, drive means connected to said drive shaft for rotating said drive shaft in timed relation to the feeding of cartons along said path, a support arm journalled on said drive shaft, a carton end panel depressing cam carried by said sup-port arm remote from said drive shaft, and drive means connecting said cam to said drive shaft for rotation thereby.

19. In a packaging machine for applying cartons to groups of containers wherein the containers have reduced necks and each carton has a central top wall portion and downwardly sloping outer top wall portions, means for advancing containers in .at least two columns and in transverse rows in contiguous relation, carton feed means overlying sa-id path for delivering cartons to groups of containers, and carton seating means disposed above said path and downstream of said carton feed means for seating carton central top wall portions on containers disposed therebeneath and depressing cart-on outer top wall portions, said carton seating means including a drive shaft, means mounting said drive shaft transversely of said path for rotation, an arm journalled on said drive shaft, carton seating roller means carried by said arm, and drive means connecting said carton seating roller means to said drive shaft for rotation thereby, a support shaft disposed parallel to said drive shaft, a lever journa'lled on said support shaft and overlying said arm, a link connecting said arm to said lever for movement therewith, a cam on said drive shaft, and a follower carried by said lever and engaged with said cam to raise and lower said arm and said carton seating roller means in timed relation to the movement of cartons therebeneath.

20. A method of applying cartons having a top wall and terminal end identification panels to a plurality of containers disposed in columns, comprising the steps of partially forming a carton from a carton blank, telescoping the carton over the containers, firmly seating the carton top wall on the containers, and then depressing the end identification panels.

21. A method of applying cartons having a top wall and terminal end identification panels to a plurality of containers disposed immediately adjacent one another in columns comprising the steps of partially forming a carton from a carton blank, telescoping the carton over the containers, firmly seating the carton top wall on the containers, moving a partially assembled carton and container group in spaced relation to following containers, and then depressing the end identification panels.

22. A method of applying cartons having a top wall and terminal end identification panels to a plurality of containers disposed in columns comprising the steps of partially forming a carton from a blank, telescoping th carton over the containers with the top wall in sloping relation to the tops of the containers, progressively seat-- ing the carton top wall on the containers, and then depressing the end identification panels.

23. In a packaging machine for applying open wraparound type cartons having top panels to groups of containers wherein the cartons have bevelled end panels integral with the ends of the top panels, means for conveying containers along a predetermined path, carton feed means lo overlying said path for applying said type cartons to groups of containers, and bevelled end panel depressing means overlying said path for engagement with said bevelled end panels of said cartons.

24. A method of applying a carton having a top wall and an end identification panel to a group of containers comprising the steps of conveying both the carton and the group of containers in a direction along substantially parallel predetermined paths, applying the carton to the group of containers, and folding the end identification panel along a line substantially normal to the direction of the predetermined parallel paths.

25. In a packaging machine for applying cartons to groups of containers wherein the containers have reduced necks and each carton has a central top wall portion and downwardly sloping outer top wall portions, means for advancing containers in at least two columns and in transverse rows in contiguous relation, carton feed means overlying said path for delivering cartons. to groups of containers, carton seating means disposed above said path and downstream of said carton feed means for seating carton central top wall portions on containers disposed therebeneath and depressing carton outer top wall portions, the cartons also having end identification panels, and end. identification panel depressing means overlying said path and disposed downstream of said carton seating means for engagement with opposed end identification panels of adjacent cartons, said end panel depressing means including a member having a projecting portion projectible down between spaced cartons to effect the sequential depression of carton end panels.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS,

2,832,182 4/58 McGihon 53:-48'X 2,933,867 4/60 Gentry 53l86 X 2,998,685 9/61 Ganz 53-48 X 3,070,928 1/63 Ganz 5348 3,085,377 4/63 Ganz 53-.18.6

FRANK E. BAILEY, Primary Examiner.

BROMLEY SEELEY, Examiner.

Disclaimer 3,187,479.R0bert H. Game, Bergenfield, NJ. PACKAGING MACHINE FOR CARTON WITH END IDENTIFICATION PANEL AND METHOD. Patent dated June 8, 1965. Disclaimer filed July 29, 1969, by the assignee, Continental 0cm Company, Inc. Hereby enters this disclaimer to claim 24 of said patent.

[Official Gazette September 16, 1.969.] 

20. A METHOD OF APPLYING CARTONS HAVING A TOP WALL AND TERMINAL END IDENTIFICATION PANELS TO A PLURALITY OF CONTAINERS DISPOSED IN COLUMNS COMPRISING THE STEPS OF PARTIALLY FORMING A CARTON FROM A CARTON BLANK, TELESCOPING THE CARTON OVER THE CONTAINERS, FIRMLY SEATING THE CARTON TOP WALL ON THE CONTAINERS, AND THEN DEPRESSING THE END IDENTIFICATION PANELS. 